Talk of War Brings Changes in Travel Plans

THE American travel industry is girding for war, with some travelers already shifting or canceling their plans to avoid any possible problems if there is an American-led invasion of Iraq. While the evidence is mostly anecdotal so far, travel industry executives say that they are seeing a broad drop-off in interest in international travel for this winter and spring, especially to Europe and the Middle East, and that many people who would normally prefer to travel abroad on vacation are choosing to stay close to home instead. “We’re seeing shorter domestic trips, more driving trips, more last-minute trips,” said Cathy Keefe, a spokeswoman for the Travel Industry Association of America, the industry’s leading trade group. If there is a war with Iraq, she said, “we think there will be an immediate impact on air travel, with international inbound travel hurt the most.” “Domestic air travel would also be hurt,” she added. “Business travel would probably fall again.” Full Story

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